Edge turning tool



March l, 1955 G. M. SMITH EDGE TURNING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 'George M.5mz`h Filed March 23, 1951 ATTORNEYS.

G. M. SMITH EDGE TURNING TOOL March l, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23, 1951 FIGA.

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BY uzv ATTORNEYS.

United Statcsptfo 2,103,129 EDGE Toor;

George M. Smith, Grafton, Wis., assignor to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York This invention relates to metal working tools and more particularly to a tool for edging or hanging sheet metal.

An object of the present invention is to provide a metal bending tool which s of simple construction and may be easily operated.

Another object is to provide an extremely accurate tool for bending the edges of thin metal plates employed in the construction of generally rectangular storage -tanks wherein the edges must be precisely bent to permit the subsequent butt welding of said plates in the assembly of said tanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool for bending the edges of sheet metal plate wherein the buckling and subsequent distortions of the plate are eliminated.

Still another object is to provide a compact durable flanging device which may be cheaply produced.

Another object is to provide a lightweight portable tool for flanging sheet metal. t

Other objects will appear from the accompanying description of an embodiment of the invention.

The present invention in general is directed to a tool for bending or edging sheet metal which comprises a frame having a pair of substantially C-shaped side menibers. A die designed with the proper curvature is longitudinally disposed across the lower edges of the mouths of the C-shaped side members and a movable die punch is longitudinally supported by the upper edges of the mouths of the C-shaped side members. The edge of the sheet metal to be bent is received by the open end or mouth of the C between the die and the die punch, and a screw means is employed to move the punch toward the die thereby shapingl the metal in conformity to the curvature of the die. As the tool is supported solely by the sheet metal to be bent, said tool is free to rotate with the edge of said metal as it is being bent.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the C-clamp preparatory to bending the edge of a sheet;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 after the edge of the sheet has been bent;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view looking into the mouth of the clamp; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the clamp.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a tool for bending or edging sheet metal comprising a pair of spaced generally C-shaped side members 1 and 2 each having a step-like projection 3 in the mouth or open end of the C.

The side walls 1 and 2 are connected together by a number o-f reinforcing plates 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 which serve to form a rigid and unitary structure and are secured by welding to the forward edges of said C-shaped walls and extend a slight distance beyond the outer surface of said walls. Plate 4 is horizontally disposed be neath the upper edge of the mouth of each C plate and extends a slight distance beyond the forward edges of said C-members 1 and 2, and serves as a seat for nuts 9 and 10 which are vertically disposed thereon. Nuts 9 and 10 are secured to the upper surface of plate 4 and to the forward edges of their respective C-members by welding as indicated at 11.

A vertical threaded aperture 12 extends through each nut and the adjoining plate 4.

The plates and 6 which are generally L-shaped in i cross-section are disposed on the step-like projection 3 of each C-member to form a step which extends the 2,703,129 Patented Mar,

entire'lengtli,v of the device and serves as a seatforfthe sheet metal 13 which is to be edged or bent. The upstandingrllange'of plate: 5, `which is .welded to "the down wardly curved edge of plate 4, is vutilized-as a stop for the sheet metal' and serves to accurately align the edge portion xoffthe sheetiiithe. tool. s V5.1, 1.

A die seat is provided by plate 7 which is horizontally disposed across the lower edge of the mouth of the C- members 1 and 2 and extends a short distance beyond the forward edge thereof.

Additional support is given to the die seat by the vertically disposed plate 8 which is welded to the lower surface of plate 7 and is also welded to the lower forward edges of the -C-members 1 and 2.

A suitable die 14 having the desired concave trough is disposed on the plate 7 with the trough exposed, s'aid die being of a suticient length to slightly overlap the ends of plate 7. The die 14 is secured to plate 7 by means of a number of screws 15 which extend upwardly through suitable holes in the table and are screwed into threaded apertures in the underside of the die 14.

A die punch 16 is disposed above the die 14, said punch being of approximately the same length as theJ die 14 and having a convex lower side adapted to be received by the concave trough of die 14. The punch 16 is vertically adjustable by means of a pair of screws 17 and 18 which operate in the threaded apertures of the nuts 9 and 10.

The punch 16 has formed in its upper surface a pair of vertical apertures 19 and 20 which receive the lower ends of screws 17 and 18. The lower end of each screw has an annular groove 21 for receiving a key pin 22 extending through suitable horizontal apertures 23 in the punch 16. The screws 17 and 18 are free to rotate within the apertures of the punch and are keyed to the punch to impart vertical movement thereto.

To operate the tool, the mouth or open end of the structure receives the sheet metal stock 13 as shown in Figure 1, the stock 13 being inserted between the die 14 and the die punch 16 with the edge of said stock resting on the step formed by plates 5 and abutting against and aligned by the anged edge of said plate.

The rotation of screws 17 and 18 in nuts 9 and 10 moves the attached punch 16 downward to bear on the intermediate sheet metal stock and bend it into conformity to the curvature of the dies. Where sheet metal stock is of large extent and firmly positioned, the tool is not secured to a supporting means, and thus will be free to rotate upwardly with the edge portion of the sheet metal as it is bent as shown in Fig. 2.

If a large section of sheet metal is to be edged a number of such tools may be employed in parallel to iiange the edge. The stems of each tool thus employed may be turned individually to lower the punches or all of the stems may be turned in unison by a suitable connecting means.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A light-weight tool for anging the edge portion of sheet metal, comprising a plurality of spaced generally C-shaped frame members with each of said frame members having an open side portion to receive the sheet metal to be bent, a connecting member having a generally C-shaped cross section and disposed within the open side portion of the frame members to connect the frame members together as an integral frame, an elongated die member supported by the connecting member and disposed within the open side portion of the frame members, said die member having a metal forming sur face extending substantially the length of the connecting member, said metal forming surface being an arc of a circle in cross sectional configuration and being substantially straight in longitudinal configuration, a second elongated die member carried by the connecting member and having a metal forming surface disposed to compli ment the metal forming surface of said rst die member, a plurality of individually adjustable members associated with the connecting member and disposed at spaced intervals longitudinally of the connecting member to selectively apply pressure at said spaced intervals to said die members to bend the sheet metal in conformity with the curvature of lthe die members, and gauge means associated with the connecting member and extending substantially the length thereof for aligning the edge of sheet metal with the longitudinal axes of die members.

References Cited in the le of this Patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,316,456 Kennedy Sept. 16, 1919 ""2y7034129i i' fr... A

Stiles June 20, 1922 Guilford Dec. 21, 1926 Fleming zi. May 8, 1934 Kruchten Aug. 21, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 12, 1935 Great Britain Ian. 3, 1941 

